BPL’s 2025 Kids Big Borrows (so far!)
Our Big Borrows stories are now an annual tradition, as we explore what Burlington readers are borrowing most from their public library. Now that our Kids Summer Reading Club is wrapped up for another year, it's a great time to check our borrowing statistics to see what titles are tops with kids so far this year. Here's what we found.
The BIGGEST Borrows
We're so impressed with the incredible enthusiasm our young customers have for reading this year! The breakdown of the most borrowed physical books (includes children's fiction, graphic novels, children's readers & pre-readers, and picture books) goes like this: five titles were borrowed 100 or more times; three titles were borrowed 90-99 times; six titles were borrowed 80-89 times; and 15 titles were borrowed 70-79 times—that's 29 children's titles borrowed at least 70 times, for a whopping 2,433 total borrows January through August!
And here's the best thing: the kids exceeded last year's numbers—by a lot. From January to August 2024, BPL members borrowed 37 children’s titles at least 50 times for 2,256 total borrows. In comparison, if we counted children's physical titles borrowed at least 50 times since January 2025, they would number over 100, with nearly 6,800 total borrows. Wow!
Let's take a look at the books that are inspiring these super-readers.
Top Children's Fiction
Not surprisingly to us, Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series saw lots of check-out action, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid Double Down taking top spot with 125 borrows and Cabin Fever (tied with a Dav Pilkey graphic novel) at #3 with 103 borrows. Fifteen books by the author landed in the top 20 children's fiction titles borrowed since January.
Respectfully removing Kinney's titles from the list since they are always mega-hits with the kids, here are the most borrowed physical children's fiction titles so far this year, each with 50 or more loans.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Geronimo Stilton. The Haunted Castle by Geronimo Stilton
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Dork Diaries. Tales from a Not-so-Secret Crush Catastrophe by Rachel Renee Russell
Diary of a Pug. Pug Blasts Off by Kyla May
Dragon Masters. Power of the Fire Dragon by Tracey West
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Dork Diaries. Tales from a Not-so-Happy Heartbreaker by Rachel Renee Russell
The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Magic Tree House. Soccer on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown
Top Graphic Novels
Young Burlington readers borrowed 27 graphic novel titles at least 50 times for a total of 1,758 loans since January. The favourites, with 70 or more loans each, were:
Dog Man. Volume 12, The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey (103 loans)
Dog Man. Volume 13, Big Jim Begins by Dav Pilkey
Scaredy's Nutty Adventures, Volume 3, Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt
Cat Kid Comic Club. Volume 3, On Purpose by Dav Pilkey
The Baby-sitters Club. Volume 16, Kristy and the Walking Disaster by Ellen T. Crenshaw
Scaredy's Nutty Adventures, Volume 2, Scaredy Squirrel Gets a Surprise by Melanie Watt
Wings of Fire, Volume 1, The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
Cat on the Run, Volume 1, In Cat of Death! by Aaron Blabey
Cat on the Run. Volume 2, In Cucumber Madness! by Aaron Blabey
Cat Kid Comic Club. Volume 2, Perspectives by Dav Pilkey
Picture Books, Pre-Readers & Readers
Burlington's littles (and their caregivers) enjoyed some quality reading time, too! Here are the top five titles borrowed so far this year in each category.
Picture Books
Up, Up, Down by Robert Munsch (105 loans)
Class Trip by Robert Munsch (102 loans)
I Can Fix It! by Robert Munsch
The Pigeon Has to Go to School! by Mo Willems
Think Big! by by Robert Munsch
Pre-Readers
Pete the Kitty Goes to the Doctor by Kim Dean
Pete the Kitty and the Case of the Hiccups by Kim Dean
Daniel Visits the Library by Maggie Testa
Fancy Nancy. Bubbles, Bubbles, and More Bubbles! by Jane O'Connor
Biscuit Loves the Park by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (tied for 5th)
Just My Best Friend by Mercer Mayer (tied for 5th)
Children's Readers
Moana's New Friend by Jennifer Liberts
Pinkalicious and the Flower Fairy by Victoria Kann
Pinkalicious. Dragon to the Rescue by Victoria Kann
Fancy Nancy. Shoe-La-La! by Victoria Saxon
Fancy Nancy. The Case of the Disappearing Doll by Nancy Parent
Discover More
We drew the line at titles borrowed at least 50 times, but our children’s book collection has so many wonderful reads that are just waiting for kids and their adults to discover.
Our staff can help you find books that will appeal to your child’s interests and are appropriate for their reading level. Call or visit any branch or ask for suggestions through our Handpicked For You readers advisory service. We’re here to help grow readers for life!
